1 Kings 11

Solomon’s Wives

1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites.
2 They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.
3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.
4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.
5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites.
6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done.
7 On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites.
8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.
9 The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.
10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command.
11 So the LORD said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates.
12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son.
13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”

Solomon’s Adversaries

14 Then the LORD raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom.
15 Earlier when David was fighting with Edom, Joab the commander of the army, who had gone up to bury the dead, had struck down all the men in Edom.
16 Joab and all the Israelites stayed there for six months, until they had destroyed all the men in Edom.
17 But Hadad, still only a boy, fled to Egypt with some Edomite officials who had served his father.
18 They set out from Midian and went to Paran. Then taking people from Paran with them, they went to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave Hadad a house and land and provided him with food.
19 Pharaoh was so pleased with Hadad that he gave him a sister of his own wife, Queen Tahpenes, in marriage.
20 The sister of Tahpenes bore him a son named Genubath, whom Tahpenes brought up in the royal palace. There Genubath lived with Pharaoh’s own children.
21 While he was in Egypt, Hadad heard that David rested with his ancestors and that Joab the commander of the army was also dead. Then Hadad said to Pharaoh, “Let me go, that I may return to my own country.”
22 “What have you lacked here that you want to go back to your own country?” Pharaoh asked. “Nothing,” Hadad replied, “but do let me go!”
23 And God raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah.
24 When David destroyed Zobah’s army, Rezon gathered a band of men around him and became their leader; they went to Damascus, where they settled and took control.
25 Rezon was Israel’s adversary as long as Solomon lived, adding to the trouble caused by Hadad. So Rezon ruled in Aram and was hostile toward Israel.

Jeroboam Rebels Against Solomon

26 Also, Jeroboam son of Nebat rebelled against the king. He was one of Solomon’s officials, an Ephraimite from Zeredah, and his mother was a widow named Zeruah.
27 Here is the account of how he rebelled against the king: Solomon had built the terraces[a] and had filled in the gap in the wall of the city of David his father.
28 Now Jeroboam was a man of standing, and when Solomon saw how well the young man did his work, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the tribes of Joseph.
29 About that time Jeroboam was going out of Jerusalem, and Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh met him on the way, wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone out in the country,
30 and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces.
31 Then he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon’s hand and give you ten tribes.
32 But for the sake of my servant David and the city of Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, he will have one tribe.
33 I will do this because they have[b] forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Molek the god of the Ammonites, and have not walked in obedience to me, nor done what is right in my eyes, nor kept my decrees and laws as David, Solomon’s father, did.
34 “ ‘But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon’s hand; I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose and who obeyed my commands and decrees.
35 I will take the kingdom from his son’s hands and give you ten tribes.
36 I will give one tribe to his son so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put my Name.
37 However, as for you, I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Israel.
38 If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you.
39 I will humble David’s descendants because of this, but not forever.’ ”
40 Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam fled to Egypt, to Shishak the king, and stayed there until Solomon’s death.

Solomon’s Death

41 As for the other events of Solomon’s reign—all he did and the wisdom he displayed—are they not written in the book of the annals of Solomon?
42 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
43 Then he rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.

1 Kings 11 Commentary

Chapter 11

Solomon's wives and concubines, His idolatry. (1-8) God's anger. (9-13) Solomon's adversaries. (14-25) Jeroboam's promotion. (26-40) The death of Solomon. (41-43)

Verses 1-8 There is not a more melancholy and astonishing instance of human depravity in the sacred Scriptures, than that here recorded. Solomon became a public worshipper of abominable idols! Probably he by degrees gave way to pride and luxury, and thus lost his relish for true wisdom. Nothing forms in itself a security against the deceitfulness and depravity of the human heart. Nor will old age cure the heart of any evil propensity. If our sinful passions are not crucified and mortified by the grace of God, they never will die of themselves, but will last even when opportunities to gratify them are taken away. Let him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall. We see how weak we are of ourselves, without the grace of God; let us therefore live in constant dependence on that grace. Let us watch and be sober: ours is a dangerous warfare, and in an enemy's country, while our worst foes are the traitors in our own hearts.

Verses 9-13 The Lord told Solomon, it is likely by a prophet, what he must expect for his apostacy. Though we have reason to hope that he repented, and found mercy, yet the Holy Ghost did not expressly record it, but left it doubtful, as a warning to others not to sin. The guilt may be taken away, but not the reproach; that will remain. Thus it must remain uncertain to us till the day of judgment, whether or not Solomon was left to suffer the everlasting displeasure of an offended God.

Verses 14-25 While Solomon kept close to God and to his duty, there was no enemy to give him uneasiness; but here we have an account of two. If against us, he can make us fear even the least, and the very grasshopper shall be a burden. Though they were moved by principles of ambition or revenge, God used them to correct Solomon.

Verses 26-40 In telling the reason why God rent the kingdom from the house of Solomon, Ahijah warned Jeroboam to take heed of sinning away his preferment. Yet the house of David must be supported; out of it the Messiah would arise. Solomon sought to kill his successor. Had not he taught others, that whatever devices are in men's hearts, the counsel of the Lord shall stand? Yet he himself thinks to defeat that counsel. Jeroboam withdrew into Egypt, and was content to live in exile and obscurity for awhile, being sure of a kingdom at last. Shall not we be content, who have a better kingdom in reserve?

Verses 41-43 Solomon's reign was as long as his father's, but his life was not so. Sin shortened his days. If the world, with all its advantages, could satisfy the soul, and afford real joy, Solomon would have found it so. But he was disappointed in all, and to warn us, has left this record of all earthly enjoyments, "Vanity and vexation of spirit." The New Testament declares that one greater than Solomon is come to reign over us, and to possess the throne of his father David. May we not see something of Christ's excellency faintly represented to us in this figure?

Cross References 50

  • 1. S ver 3; S Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy 17:17; Nehemiah 13:26
  • 2. 1 Kings 14:21,31
  • 3. S Exodus 34:16; 1 Kings 16:31; Deuteronomy 7:3-4
  • 4. S Genesis 22:24; S Esther 2:14
  • 5. ver 1; Deuteronomy 17:17; Nehemiah 13:26; Proverbs 31:3
  • 6. S Exodus 34:16
  • 7. S 1 Kings 8:61; 1 Kings 9:4; S 1 Chronicles 29:19
  • 8. ver 33; S Judges 2:13; 2 Kings 23:13
  • 9. ver 7; S Leviticus 18:21; Isaiah 57:9; Zephaniah 1:5
  • 10. S Deuteronomy 4:25
  • 11. 2 Kings 23:13
  • 12. S Numbers 21:29; Judges 11:24
  • 13. S Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 20:2-5; Acts 7:43
  • 14. ver 2-3; S 1 Kings 3:5; 1 Kings 9:2
  • 15. S 1 Kings 9:6
  • 16. 1 Kings 6:12
  • 17. S Leviticus 18:4
  • 18. ver 31; S 1 Samuel 15:27; 1 Kings 12:15-16; 2 Kings 17:21; Matthew 21:43
  • 19. Psalms 89:33
  • 20. 1 Kings 12:20
  • 21. S 2 Samuel 7:15
  • 22. Deuteronomy 12:11
  • 23. S 1 Kings 5:4
  • 24. Deuteronomy 20:13; 2 Samuel 8:14; 1 Chronicles 18:12
  • 25. Numbers 10:12
  • 26. ver 14; S 1 Kings 5:4
  • 27. S 2 Samuel 8:3
  • 28. S 2 Samuel 8:5; 2 Samuel 10:8,18
  • 29. S Genesis 10:22; S 2 Samuel 10:19
  • 30. 2 Samuel 20:21; 1 Kings 12:2; 2 Chronicles 13:6
  • 31. S 1 Kings 9:24
  • 32. S Ruth 2:1
  • 33. S Genesis 39:4; Proverbs 22:29
  • 34. 1 Kings 12:15; 1 Kings 14:2; 2 Chronicles 9:29; 2 Chronicles 10:15
  • 35. 1 Samuel 15:27
  • 36. S ver 11; S 1 Samuel 15:27
  • 37. S 2 Samuel 7:15
  • 38. ver 5-7; S Judges 2:13
  • 39. 2 Kings 21:22
  • 40. 1 Kings 3:3
  • 41. ver 13; 1 Kings 12:17
  • 42. S 2 Samuel 21:17; 1 Kings 15:4; 2 Kings 8:19
  • 43. 1 Kings 14:7
  • 44. 2 Samuel 3:21
  • 45. S Deuteronomy 12:25; S 2 Samuel 8:15
  • 46. S Deuteronomy 17:19
  • 47. S Exodus 1:21; Joshua 1:5; 2 Samuel 7:11,27
  • 48. 1 Kings 12:2; 2 Chronicles 10:2
  • 49. 2 Chronicles 12:2
  • 50. 1 Kings 14:21; Matthew 1:7

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or "the Millo"
  • [b]. Hebrew; Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac "because he has"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 11

This chapter relates the false steps Solomon took, notwithstanding all his wisdom, in marrying strange wives, and worshipping other gods, 1Ki 11:1-8 upon which the Lord threatens him to rend the kingdom in his son's time, 1Ki 11:9-13 and he raised up adversaries against him, Hadad, Rezon, and Jeroboam, 1Ki 11:14-26 of which last an account is given, and of his being assured by Ahijah the prophet of his having ten of the tribes of Israel given to him; which Solomon having notice of sought to slay him, 1Ki 11:27-40 and the chapter is concluded with an account of Solomon's death and burial, 1Ki 11:41-43.

1 Kings 11 Commentaries

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